Bending machine



Sept. 16, 1941. w A, M CKQL 2,2ssgse7 I BENDING MACHINE Filed Juiy 22, 1938. 3 Sheets-Sheet l //v VENTOR Sept. 16, 1941. w. A. WISCKOL BENDING MACHINE.

Filed July 22, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet 3' I ATTORNEYZ.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 I BENDING MACHINE William A. Wisckol, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Douglas & Lomason Company, Detroit, Micln,

a corporation of Michigan Application July 22, 1938, Serial No. 220,612 7 Claims. (Cl. 153-46) This invention relates to forming devices and more particularly to devices or machines for bending longitudinally rolled sections or strips of metal stockto desired curvilinear shapes. In one of its aspects this invention contemplates the provision of an improved method for longitudinally bending rolled metal sections or the like into predetermined curvilinear shapes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved forming device enabling bending relatively long members to a desired longitudinal three-dimensional curvature.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine and method for bending an elongate work piece of angular or curvilinear partially closed cross section, such as a channelshaped or generally c-shaped or other cross secvery difficult because of the necessity to support such members while bending to prevent wrinkling of the material and to remove the supporting member after the bending operation is completed. The common method of bending members of fully enclosed cross section, such as pipes, contemplating filling such member with sand is very tedious and is not applicable to members having only partially enclosed cross sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved forming or bending machine for bending relatively long and thin members, such as moldings of various kinds, without wrinkling or deforming the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedmethod'for bending longitudinally relatively long members having thin walls liable to be deformed or wrinkled.

It is an added object of the present invention to provide an improved device of the foregoing character, which is simple in construction and.

dependable in operation, is easy to operate and has increased production capacity. I

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bending machine embodying the invention, the machine being shown ready for insertion of the member to be bent.

Fig. 2 is a view similar in part to Fig. l, the

machine being shown with the article to be bent inserted in position and the pressure applying means ready to be moved for bending the article. Fig. 3 is a partial top view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, said figure illustrating the pressure applying means.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through the line 55 of Fig. 4, and illustrating the pressure applying means and the flexible filler device as well as the means connecting-the same for simultaneous movement.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the end of the flexible filler, illustrating the means of connecting the beads composing said iiller.

Fig. 7 shows the molding bent with the aid of the machine to a half curvature of a radiator grille frame.

Fig. 8 shows the completed radiator grille molding or frame.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illus- .or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and

it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there is shown, by way of example, a machine for bending a radiator grille molding or frame. In the present embodiment the machine bends the molding to the desired shape in two operations. However, it will be understood that a machine may be constructed in accordance with the present invention which will perform the entire bending process in one operation. Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, the machine comprises a forming head supported by an upright leg or post I0 and comprising a table II secured to said post. A track member I! is provided on the post I 0. -The member I2 is provided with a peripheral channel l3, said channel having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the member to be bent. Since the molding is to be bent to form a figure having curvature of the three-dimensional type, one end of said track member I2 is raised or bent up from the table and is supported thereon by means of a block l4.

It is to be noted that the member to be bent may be of a configuration that is non-circular in plan, that is, be of half elliptical or oval shape and the like, and that its curvature or angularity in the vertical direction may vary at diiferent points of its length, thus effecting three-dimensional curvature.

At the raised or ofiset end of the track member I2 there is provided a clamping device which enables clamping to said track member I2 one end of the member to be bent, thus retaining the member in place during the bending operation. As is shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, the clamping device comprises a supporting guide link IS on which link there is adapted to slide a block l8 carrying a contact member ll of such a shape as to correspond to the cross section of the member to be bent and to bear against the surface thereof. The block is actuated with the .aid of an eccentric I8 having a handle l9 and connected with the block by means of a link 20 the ends of which are hinged respectively to the eccentric l8 and the block IS, a lost motion slot being provided at the eccentric end thereof as shown at 2|.

The bending means comprises a lever 25 con-F sisting of two halves or sections 25a and 25b secured together'by a hinge 28 carried on one end of the section 25a; the opposite end of this section or lever arm being provided with an elongatedslot 21 cooperating with a vertical pivot pin 28 fixed to the table II and having a threaded free end upon which is mounted a bearing washer and a nut which is loosely screwed down upon the washer, the latter bearing upon the top face of the section 25a. A roller 24 carried by the section 25a is adapted to run along the back surface of the track member l2, the slot and pin connection permitting said roller to follow the when the lever member 25 is .swung down. By.

virtue of such a construction the lever 25 presents a rigid structure when forces are applied thereto in a sidewise or in a downward direction, the handle carrying section 25b, however, being adapted to be raised upwards, as shown in Fig.- 1, to clear the work piece or member to be bent in order to permit insertion or removal of said work piece.

To the section 28b there is secured an angle bracket 30 supporting a spring 31 mounted on a rod 32 passing through the downwardly extending legs of said bracket- One end of said spring bears against a collar 33 having a threaded extension 33a engaging an internally threaded hole in the leg 30a of, the bracket 38. The collar 33 is provided with a plurality of holes around its 75 'vided two slots see Fig. 1, into which fit two 60 section, as the beads 41.

periphery for more convenient rotation thereof with the aid of a straight bar or wrench. The other-end of the spring 3| bears against a pin 34 provided on the rod 32. The spring 3| is of the 5 compression type and it tends to push the rod 32 towardthe track. On the track end of the rod 32 there is provided a wedge shaped head 32a having a rounded working end bearing against a block 35 carrying a composite pressure shoe, the

block being notched or grooved as shown in Fig. 5

to receive the head 32a and provide an articulated engagement.

The composite pressure shoe, see Fig. 5, consists of two pieces 31 connected by means of pins 38 to the block 35, such a connection permitting the pieces 31 to rock in every direction and to rotate on said pins within certain limits. The pressure faces of said pieces are shaped to bear against the member to be bent. The rocking attachment of the pieces 3! permits them to follow 5 the supporting means being so constructed that they do not interfere with the bending of the member and yet prevent wrinkling or buckling of the thin walls thereof. Another important feature of the invention residesin the fact that the supporting means are of such a construction that they can be employed in connection with members of hollow partially enclosed cross section,

such for instance as with members of generally O-shaped cross section. It is clear from an ex- 9 amination of such a cross section that the usual methods of filling hollow members with sand to prevent irregular bending cannot be applied in connection with such sections. The shaping of the track means by the provision of beads filling 40 the hollow of the member to be bent when the same is forced into the track is also inapplicable.

In accordance with the present invention, the member of a hollow partially closed cross section is supported from the inside with the aid of a longitudinally flexible filler means, said means being rigid in transverse direction and adapted to be removed from the member longitudinally thereof. In the present embodiment of the invention said means are exemplified by a filler device generally indicated by the numeral 40, see

Fig. 1, which device comprises a plurality of beads of such a cross section that they fit into the hollow cross section of the member to be bent. Said beads, indicated by the numerals 4|,

are connected'by means of a chain 42, said chain being fastened to the last ,bead Ma and passing freely through holes in the remaining beads, the opposite end of said chain 42 being fastened to a. pulling member 43 which is of the same cross The beads 4| are chamfered as shown at 44 in order to permit .-"their arrangement on an are without interference of their sides.

To the pulling member 43 there is secured a member 45 having a threaded portion 45a pass- 7 adjustments of the member 45a. The block 46 is provided with a curved through guide slot 48 for sliding passage of the member, to be bent,

said member being indicated generally by the,

numeral 50. In the block 46 there are also proof the above described clamping means.

the' block 46 slides.

dimensional curvature.

projecting fingers 52 of an extension 53 of the] member 35 carryingthe pressure pieces 31.

Before the bending operation commences, the endof the work piece 50 is passed through the slot 48 in the guide block 46. Thereupon the filler device 40- is introduced into the member 50 and the threaded rod 450. passed through the hole in the block 46, the nut 41 being first removed and then threaded upon the end of the rod. The end 50a. of the work piece 50 is placed on the track over the stationary supporting member 55 (see Fig. and clamped in fixed position to the end of the track with the aid During this operation the lever 25 is raised as shown in Fig. 1. The pressure shoe 31-31 is next positioned against the outer face of the work piece, the fingers 52 being introduced into the slots ii of the block 45. The lever 25 is then lowered into the position shown in Fig, 2, said figure, together with Figs. 3 and 5, illustrating the machine just before or shortly after the bending operation commences. The lowering of the lever 25 brings the head 32a in contact with the block 35 and the spring is next compressed by turning the collar 33.

By application of a force on the handle of the lever 25 to swing the same in a counter-clockwise direction viewed from Figs. 2 and 3, the oberator moves the pressure shoe along the-member 50 around the channel of the track member l2, the pressure of the spring 3i forcing the member 50 into said channel and bending the same. From an examination of Fig. 5 it will be understood that the bending takes place in that portion of the member 50 which houses the filler means 40 and, therefore, such bending takes place without changing thelconfiguration of the cross section of the member.- As the pressure shoe moves along the member 50 and around the track member l2, the filler device being connected to said pressure shoe moves along with it, and therefore the member 50 is successively bent with the proper support from the inside around its entire length.

In order to keep the work piece 50 tangent to the channel of the track member l2 at every point thereof, there are provided curved or camlike supporting shelves or ledges 58 along which During the bending operation the member 50, the pressure shoe, the filler device and the shelves or cam surfaces 58 are amply lubricated 'to eliminate excessive friction.

It will be understood in view of the foregoing that the above described device is only one of the many devices with the aid of which bending of thin walled members of the hollow I claim:

1. Ina bending machine, a stationary hea'd a track member secured to :said head and having a peripheral forming channel ofa three-dimensional curvature on one of its sides and atrack on the opposite side from said channel parallel thereto, said channel being adapted to receive a member of a partially closed cross section; a pin fixed to said head; a lever having one end longitudinally slotted and engaging said pin; pressure means carried by said lever and adapted to follow said channel and the curvature thereof when said lever is rotated around said pin by application of force on the opposite end of said lever, forcing the member to be bent into said channel; a roller carried by said lever and adapted to run along said track and transmit thereto the reactive force exerted on said lever by the pressure means; and a flexible .filler means adapted to be inserted into the member to be bent, said filler being connected to said lever for movement longitudinally of said member to be bent and along the center line thereof.

2. In a bending machine, a head, a track member secured to said head and having a peripheral forming channel of a non-circular configuration in plan and of varying vertical angularity, a pin fixed to said head, a lever having one end longitudinally slotted and engaging said pin, pressure means carried by said lever and adapted to follow the configuration of saidchannel when said lever is rotated around said pin, a roller engaging said track member and adapted to move said lever longitudinally on said slot-engaging pin to provide for the non-circular configuration of saidchannel, clamping means for securely holding one end of the member to be bent at one end of said channel during the bending operation, an extension on said pressure means adapted to maintain the member to be bent tangent to the plan configuration of said channel, and supporting means for said extension adjacent said channel and adapted to maintain the member to be bent throughout the bending operation tangent to the vertical angularity of said channel.

partially enclosed cross section may be acconiplished in accordance with my improved method. An important step of my improved method is supporting such members in the process of bending by a longitudinally flexible filler removable longitudinally of the member to be bent. As can be easily understood this method is further improved by using a relatively short filler "movable along the member to be bent during the process of operation in such a way as to be 3. In a bending machine, a support, a track member secured to said support and having a peripheral forming channel of a three-dimensional varying curvature, a. lever device comprising two portions, a hinge connection between said portions effective to make the lever foldable transversely of said channel but rigid longitudinally thereof, a pivotal connection between one portion of said lever and said support whereby said lever is adapted to swing bodily longitudinally of said channel while rotating at the same time in a plane passing through its pivotal axis, and pressure means associated with the second portion of said lever and adapted to follow the configuration of said. channel when said lever is swung about its pivotal axis and to be withdrawn from said channel when said lever is folded.

4. In a bending machine, a head having a, peripheral forming, channel of a non-circular configuration in plan and "of changing ertical curvature, said channel being adapted to receive a. member to be bent, a pin fixed to said head 5 said pin, means on said lever restricting the said lever is adapted when rotated around said longitudinal sliding thereof on the pin to predetermined limits, pressure exerting means carried by said lever and engaging said curved channel and adapted to exert bending forte on the member to be bent forcing the same into said channel for bending the member to the shape of said channel, said pressure exerting means being adapted because of the sliding of I l the rotating lever on the pin to exert the bend-1 ,ing force substantially in the direction of the 7 pressure exerting means.

5. Ina bendingmachine, a head having a: peripheral forming channel of a non-circular configuration in plan and of changingvertical' curvature, said channel being adapted to receive' a member to be bent, a pin fixed to said head substantially perpendicularly thereof, a lever having one end longitudinally slotted, said pin engaging said lever at said slot whereby;

pin asan axis to slide thereon longitudinally and transversely of itself with respect to the axis of said pin, means on said lever restricting the longitudinalslidingthereof on the Pin to pre-;

determined limits, pressure exerting means car-.

ried by said lever and engaging saidLcurved channel and adapted to exert bending force on the .member to be bent forcing the same into saidchannel for bending the member to the shape of said channel, said pressure exerting means being adapted because of the sliding of the rotating lever on the pin to exert the bend ing force substantially in the direction of the center line of saidchannel during the bending operation, and means carried by said lever and 40 ,engaging said head during rotation of the lever along a predetermined path for transmitting to said head the reactive force produced by said pressure exerting means. I

6. In a bending-machine, a stationary head; a track member secured to said head and havinga peripheral forming channel of three-dimensio'nal curvature along one of its sides and a track along the side opposite to said channel and parallei thereto, said channel being adapted to receive a member to be bent; a pin flxed to said head substantially perpendicularly thereof, a lever having one end longitudinally slotted, said pin engaging said lever in said slot, whereby said 1 aasaeer lever is adapted when rotated around said pin as an axis to slide thereon longitudinally and transversely of itself and also to rotate in the plane of said pin; means provided respectively on said lever and on said pin and confining said sliding of the lever in both of said directions to predetermined limits; pressure exerting means carried by said lever and engaging said channel forcing the member to be bent into the same, said pressure exerting means being adapted to follow said channel and the curvature thereof forcing the member to be bent into the same when said lever is rotated around said pin, said pressure exerting means including a composite pressure shoe having a plurality of pivoted pieces adapted to rock on their pivots to follow the three-dimensional curvature of said channel; and means attached to said lever and engaging said trackmember for transmitting thereto the reactive force produced by said pressure exerting means.

7. In a bending machine, a stationary head;' a track member secured to said head and having a peripheral forming channel of three-dimensional curvature along oneof its sides and a track along the side opposite to said channel and parallel thereto, saidchannel being adapted to receive a member to be bent; a pin fixedto said head substantially perpendicularly thereof, a lever having one end longitudinally slotted, said pin engaging said lever at said slot, whereby said lever is adapted when rotated around said pin as an axis to slide-thereon longitudinally and transversely of itself and also to rotate in the plane of said pin; means provided respectively on said lever and on said pin and confining said sliding of said lever on said pin in both of said directions to predetermined limits; pressure exerting means carried by said lever and engaging said channel forcing the member to be bent into the same, said pressure exerting means being adapted to follow said channel and the curvature thereof forcing the member to be bent into the same when said lever is rotated around said pin, said pressure exerting'means including a composite pressure shoe having a plurality of pivoted pieces adapted to rock on their pivot! to follow the three-dimensional curvature of said I channel; and a roller carried by said lever and having rolling engagement with said track as said lever is rotated for transmitting the reactive force produced by said pressure means to said track member.

WILLIAM A. WISCKOL. 

